--- title: Blog | Herzing College | personal support worker (2) description: personal support worker | Discover informative and engaging blog articles on education, careers, and student life at Herzing College. Get expert advice to help you achieve your goals. (2) --- - English - Français - News / Blog - [Contact](https://www.herzing.ca/contact) - [Student Login](https://student5.campuslogin.com/(S(l5qa1i55nvojjoragnier23j))/StudentLoginDefault.aspx?OrgID=12200) [![herzing-logo@2x](https://blog.herzing.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/herzing-logo@2x.png?width=164&height=33&name=herzing-logo@2x.png "herzing-logo@2x")](https://www.herzing.ca) - [PROGRAMS](https://www.herzing.ca/programs-page/) - [ONLINE PROGRAMS](https://www.herzing.ca/online-programs/) - [CAMPUS SERVICES](https://www.herzing.ca/campus-services/admissions/) - [INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS](https://www.herzing.ca/international-students/) - [WHY HERZING](https://www.herzing.ca/why-herzing/why-choose-herzing/) - [LOCATIONS](https://www.herzing.ca/locations/) ![menu@2x](https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/menu@2x.png "menu@2x") # Herzing Blog Expert advice to help you choose the right training program and succeed in your career. - [Herzing College \>](https://herzing.ca) - [Blog](https://blog.herzing.ca) ### Book a Tour X Visit a Herzing College Campus! ### Ask a Question X Want to Learn More? ### Explore X ### Is Career Training right for you? [TAKE OUR CAREER TRAINING READINESS KIT](https://yourcareerexploration.ca/?lead_src=w-cta-box&mid=18419) Live Chat   Tour   Ask   Explore   - [All Campuses](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/national) - [Montreal French](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/montreal-fr) - [Montreal](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/montreal) - [Ottawa](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/ottawa) - [Toronto](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/toronto) - [Winnipeg](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/Winnipeg) - [Herzing Skilled Trades Training](https://blog.herzing.ca/trades) - [Kompass Professional Development](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training) #### SELECT A CATEGORY: - Categories - [All Campuses](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/national) - [Montreal French](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/montreal-fr) - [Montreal](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/montreal) - [Ottawa](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/ottawa) - [Toronto](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/toronto) - [Winnipeg](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/Winnipeg) - [Herzing Skilled Trades Training](https://blog.herzing.ca/trades) - [Kompass Professional Development](https://blog.herzing.ca/kompass-online-training) ## All Personal-support-worker Posts ## [9 Skills You Need to Become a Personal Support Worker](https://blog.herzing.ca/becoming-a-personal-support-worker-9-skills-youll-need-to-get-hired) [![personal support workers 2](https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/personal%20support%20workers%202.jpg)](https://blog.herzing.ca/becoming-a-personal-support-worker-9-skills-youll-need-to-get-hired) May 28, 2019, 2:33:58 PM *Personal Support Worker students pose for a class photo at Herzing College* *Updated December 2025* Looking for a health care career that doesn't require years of training, but allows you to make a huge difference in people's lives? Becoming a personal support worker (PSW) could be your ideal choice. You can earn a PSW diploma in just nine months. By the time you graduate, you'll have all the skills needed to get hired at a hospital, long-term care facility, or home-care company. [Read More](https://blog.herzing.ca/becoming-a-personal-support-worker-9-skills-youll-need-to-get-hired) ## [Pros & Cons of Becoming a Personal Support Worker: Should You Go For It?](https://blog.herzing.ca/pros-cons-of-becoming-a-personal-support-worker-should-you-go-for-it) [![Group of PSW students](https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/PSW%20ottawa%20class.jpg)](https://blog.herzing.ca/pros-cons-of-becoming-a-personal-support-worker-should-you-go-for-it) May 13, 2019, 11:01:03 AM *Photo: Personal Support Worker students pose for a class picture at Herzing College* *Updated December 2025* What's inspiring you to become a personal support worker (PSW)? In our experience working with PSW students, there's usually a couple of key reasons people gravitate toward this career. One is the high demand for PSWs in Ontario and throughout many parts of Canada. If you're looking for a stable health care career, this is an excellent choice. Our aging population is expected to continue creating jobs for PSWs well into the future. Another top motivator is the one-to-one time personal support workers get to spend with clients. If you're looking for more than "just a job" and want to make a real connection with people, PSW is the obvious choice. But like all careers, becoming a personal support worker comes with certain challenges. What should you know before you invest in training and start down this path? Take a look at the most common pros and cons of working as a personal support worker, and see if this role is right for you. [Read More](https://blog.herzing.ca/pros-cons-of-becoming-a-personal-support-worker-should-you-go-for-it) ## [5 Ways Personal Support Worker is the Most Meaningful Job in Healthcare](https://blog.herzing.ca/5-ways-personal-support-worker-is-the-most-meaningful-job-in-healthcare) [![personal support worker](https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/respite%20care%20as%20health%20care%20aide%20-%20LEAD%20IMAGE.jpg)](https://blog.herzing.ca/5-ways-personal-support-worker-is-the-most-meaningful-job-in-healthcare) Oct 23, 2018, 1:26:47 PM *Updated December 2025* We've all heard the news and read the stats. Canada's health care system is stretched to the limit. We don't have enough long-term care beds, there aren't enough medical professionals, and we don't know how we'll care for our growing population of seniors. It's no surprise that in the middle of this challenge, we've seen demand for personal support workers skyrocket. Why? Because personal support workers (PSWs) provide essential health care services doctors and nurses cannot. They fill a growing need in our society for flexible, personalized patient care—the kind of ongoing support our hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes can't provide. Exactly what makes PSWs so important? Take a look at five ways personal support workers change lives on a daily basis. Here's what makes this career one of the most meaningful jobs in healthcare today. [Read More](https://blog.herzing.ca/5-ways-personal-support-worker-is-the-most-meaningful-job-in-healthcare) ## [Should You Take PSW Training? 4 Things to Consider Before You Enrol](https://blog.herzing.ca/should-you-take-psw-training-4-things-to-consider-before-you-enrol) [![PSW training](https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/Stock%20images/Mid%20adult%20nurse%20writing%20on%20clipboard%20while%20looking%20at%20patient%20in%20hospital.jpeg)](https://blog.herzing.ca/should-you-take-psw-training-4-things-to-consider-before-you-enrol) Feb 18, 2018, 1:48:18 PM *Updated December 2025* Inspired to begin a career in health care? Looking at your local training options? Many students are attracted to personal support worker (PSW) training because of the direct focus on patient care, flexible work schedules, and high level of demand across Canada for PSWs. Students also like this program because it's quite short (usually less than 12 months) and is an excellent entry point for other healthcare careers, such as nursing. Thinking you might enrol in PSW training this year? Before you sign up for a program, take some time to consider what it takes to succeed in this field, the skills you'll focus on in training, and your local job prospects. Read on to make sure you're a good fit for the PSW career path. [Read More](https://blog.herzing.ca/should-you-take-psw-training-4-things-to-consider-before-you-enrol) ## [PSW Training in Nutrition Management: Meal-Planning Tips for Seniors](https://blog.herzing.ca/psw-training-in-nutrition-management-essential-meal-planning-tips-examples-for-seniors) [![PSW training](https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/Stock%20images/Home%20helper%20serving%20breakfast%20to%20elderly%20woman.jpeg)](https://blog.herzing.ca/psw-training-in-nutrition-management-essential-meal-planning-tips-examples-for-seniors) Feb 6, 2018, 11:09:23 AM *Updated December 2025* There are so many factors that can influence our relationship with food as we age. For example, while caring for seniors after PSW training, you will meet patients who have lost their sense of smell and taste, making mealtime far less appealing. Others will be impacted by medication side effects that reduce appetite. In some cases, an illness or disease will make eating painful or unpleasant—and certain patients will make poor food choices that result in weight gain and a host of related health problems. Poor nutrition is a far more serious issue in Canada than many PSWs realize. A [recent report](https://www.clsa-elcv.ca/one-third-of-older-canadians-at-nutritional-risk-study-finds/) found that one-third of Canadian seniors were at risk for malnutrition.  How can personal support workers help ensure the seniors they care for eat a balanced diet? What should you know about tailoring diets to common issues among older patients? Read on for practical tips, food suggestions, and helpful meal-planning advice. [Read More](https://blog.herzing.ca/psw-training-in-nutrition-management-essential-meal-planning-tips-examples-for-seniors) ## [5 Steps for Personal Support Workers Dealing With Difficult Patients](https://blog.herzing.ca/psw-training-dealing-with-difficult-patients) [![Young beauty doctor working in rest home.jpeg](https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/Stock%20images/Young%20beauty%20doctor%20working%20in%20rest%20home.jpeg)](https://blog.herzing.ca/psw-training-dealing-with-difficult-patients) Nov 13, 2017, 1:50:42 PM *Updated December 2025* Personal support workers play a central role in the lives of their clients. They provide the assistance patients need to maintain independence, cope with debilitating medical conditions, and achieve the highest possible quality of life. PSWs help with important everyday tasks like administering medication, providing assistance with grooming, planning and preparing healthy meals, coordinating social activities, monitoring changes in condition, and supervising prescribed therapeutic exercises. The PSW-patient relationship is, by definition, close and personal. And as with all close relationships, conflicts can arise. How should PSWs deal with patients who push them away or resist help? How can you maintain professionalism and serve your client's best interests, when faced with disruptive and upsetting behaviour?  Start with these five steps. These are the approaches front-line health care providers often use when dealing with difficult patients. [Read More](https://blog.herzing.ca/psw-training-dealing-with-difficult-patients) ## [PSW Career Support: Coping With the Death of a Client](https://blog.herzing.ca/psw-career-support-coping-with-the-death-of-a-client) [![](https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/Stock%20images/Aged%20man%20in%20hospital%20bed%20visited%20by%20son.jpeg)](https://blog.herzing.ca/psw-career-support-coping-with-the-death-of-a-client) Sep 25, 2017, 11:24:55 AM *Updated December 2025* Death and dying are everyday realities for personal support workers. Many PSWs care for seniors in their homes, or in long-term care facilities, where an [estimated 20 per cent of residents](http://www.palliativealliance.ca/assets/files/Presentations/Article-7-Death-is-Part-of-the-Job-1.pdf?_ga=2.34066919.777284564.1667317542-388841279.1667317542) pass away each year.   PSWs often provide end-of-life care, where they specialize in helping clients (and their families) with life's final transition. But despite all of this direct experience, personal support workers still struggle with loss when a client dies. [Read More](https://blog.herzing.ca/psw-career-support-coping-with-the-death-of-a-client) ## [Taking PSW Training? 4 Facts You Should Know About OPSWA](https://blog.herzing.ca/psw-training-6-facts-you-should-know-about-opswa) [![Portrait of a friendly caucasian female doctor and team in bright modern office-1.jpeg](https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/Stock%20images/Portrait%20of%20a%20friendly%20caucasian%20female%20doctor%20and%20team%20in%20bright%20modern%20office-1.jpeg)](https://blog.herzing.ca/psw-training-6-facts-you-should-know-about-opswa) Aug 28, 2017, 10:31:37 AM *Updated December 2025* Enrolled in PSW training and nearing the end of your diploma? It's likely you're looking ahead to your employment options after graduation, and for support systems to help get your career rolling. If you live in Ontario, you've probably heard of the Ontario Personal Support Workers Association—OPSWA.  It's an organization new grads and experienced PSWs can join to get professional support and push for greater recognition for PSWs across the province. But what exactly does OPSWA do, how might you benefit from joining the network, and what does it take to get a membership? In this post, we introduce students to an overview of OPSWA, and some key facts you should know about joining the association. [Read More](https://blog.herzing.ca/psw-training-6-facts-you-should-know-about-opswa) ## [5 Eye-Opening Facts on Elder Abuse for Students in PSW Training](https://blog.herzing.ca/5-eye-opening-facts-on-elder-abuse-for-students-in-psw-training) [![Portrait of elder woman having seasonal depression.jpeg](https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/Stock%20images/Portrait%20of%20elder%20woman%20having%20seasonal%20depression.jpeg)](https://blog.herzing.ca/5-eye-opening-facts-on-elder-abuse-for-students-in-psw-training) Jun 7, 2017, 8:55:06 AM *Updated December 2025* What is elder abuse? The World Health Organization (WHO) [defines elder abuse](https://www.who.int/health-topics/abuse-of-older-people#tab=tab_1) as "an intentional act, or failure to act, by a caregiver or another person in a relationship involving an expectation of trust that causes harm to an adult 60 years and older." Elder abuse comes in many forms, including physical, psychological, financial, sexual, and even spiritual. Seniors may also experience abuse through neglect. [Read More](https://blog.herzing.ca/5-eye-opening-facts-on-elder-abuse-for-students-in-psw-training) [❮](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/personal-support-worker/page/1) [1](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/personal-support-worker/page/1) [2](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/personal-support-worker/page/2) ![hard hat icon](https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/ic-hard-hat.png "hard hat icon") ## Herzing Skilled Trades Training [![SKILLED TRADES BLOG](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/386626/67ee5376-52fa-4e5b-9b81-a6ec00f6e798.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/386626/67ee5376-52fa-4e5b-9b81-a6ec00f6e798) ### Categories - [News and Events](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/news-and-events) - [Training](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/training) - [Careers and Employment](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/careers-and-employment) - [Student Services](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/student-services) - [Business](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/business) - [Design](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/design) - [Education](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/education) - [Healthcare](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/healthcare) - [Legal Studies](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/legal-studies) - [Media](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/media) - [Technology](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/technology) - [Toronto Campus Blog](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/toronto) - [Winnipeg Campus Blog](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/winnipeg) - [Ottawa Campus Blog](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/ottawa) - [Montreal Campus Blog](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/montreal) - [Blogue du Campus de Montréal](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/montreal-fr) - [Kompass Professional Development](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/kompass-professional-development) - [Business and Affairs](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/business-and-affairs) - [All Campuses](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/national) - [scarborough](https://blog.herzing.ca/topic/scarborough) ### Most Read ### READY FOR THE NEXT LEVEL? ## TAKE THE NEXT STEP #### Fill in the form bellow and one of our representatives will help you with documents and requirements to enrol in this program. ![ballot-check@2x](https://blog.herzing.ca/hubfs/ballot-check@2x.png "ballot-check@2x") ## YOUR NEXT MOVE ## ARE YOU CAREER TRAINING READY? 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